Reinforced concrete panel and method of manufacture
OwnerWilliam H. Smithinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A reinforced concrete panel is formed by embedding a stretched steel chain link mesh unit within concrete. The panel can be used to form a building or a flood dyke, or an earth reinforcing wall. The earth reinforcing wall is formed by digging a trench in the soil. Vertical posts are positioned in the trench, the posts spaced apart by a distance corresponding to a width of a panel. The panels are lowered between adjacent pairs of posts, and the edges of each panel slide within grooves formed in the posts. Finally, the trench is filled with concrete to encase the panels and posts.
Claims15
A reinforced structural concrete panel comprising a concrete body having a pre-tensioned metallic chain link mesh unit embedded therein, the chain link mesh unit extending across a substantial portion of the concrete body, the chain link mesh unit comprising a plurality of zig-zag shaped strands, each strand comprising a plurality of substantially parallel first segments and a plurality of substantially parallel second segments, the first segments oriented substantially perpendicular to the second segments, each first segment forming an apex with an adjacent second segment, the strands arranged in side-by-side relationship with the apexes of each strand interlinked with respective apexes of an adjacent strand, wherein the interlinked apexes form parallel rows of interlinked apexes, the rows extending substantially perpendicular to the strands, the mesh unit being prestressed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the strands and substantially parallel to the rows of interlinked apexes.
A method of forming a reinforced structural concrete panel comprising the steps of:
- A) positioning a metallic chain link mesh unit in a cavity formed by a frame, the chain link mesh unit comprising a plurality of zig-zag shaped strands, each strand comprising a plurality of substantially parallel first segments and a plurality of substantially parallel second segments, the first segments oriented substantially perpendicular to the second segments, each first segment forming an apex with an adjacent second segment, the strands arranged in side-by-side relationship with the apexes of each strand interlinked with respective apexes of an adjacent strand, wherein the interlinked apexes form parallel rows of interlinked apexes, the rows extending substantially perpendicular to the strands and substantially parallel to the rows of interlinked apexes;
- B) applying tensioning forces to the chain link mesh unit in a direction substantially perpendicular to the strands and substantially parallel to the rows of interlinked apexes for stretching and pre-tensioning the chain link mesh unit;
- C) pouring concrete into the cavity while maintaining the chain link mesh unit in a pre-tensioned state, to embed the chain link mesh unit in the concrete;
- D) allowing the concrete to harden;
- and
- E) releasing the tensioning forces from the chain link mesh unit, wherein the interlinked joints maintain the strands in a pre-tensioned state in the hardened concrete.
A method of forming an earth retaining wall comprising the steps of:
- A) digging a trench in the ground;
- B) anchoring panel-retaining members in the trench, the panel-retaining members projecting below a bottom of the trench;
- C) lowering reinforced concrete panels into the trench between respective pairs of panel-retaining members such that opposite vertical edges of each panel become connected to the respective pair of panel-retaining members by a tongue-and-socket coupling, the panel-retaining members projecting below the panels;
- and
- D) pouring concrete into the trench to embed the panels and the panel-retaining members therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.